A young girl and her mother discovered a humpback whale stranded at Wathumba Creek in K'gari, Queensland, Australia. The incident highlights the ongoing risk of whale strandings along Australia's coastline and the importance of prompt reporting to wildlife authorities rather than direct human intervention.

The whale managed to free itself and return to open water on the afternoon of Sunday 9 August, according to Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Authorities have reiterated advice that the public should not touch, interfere with or approach stranded marine animals, and should instead report sightings immediately to the relevant department.